Mrs. Obama said she met Ms. Ledbetter during the presidential campaignand praised her "commitment, her dedication, her focus.''

"She knew unfairness when she saw it and was willing to do somethingabout it because it was the right thing to do, plain and simple,'' Mrs.Obama said.

"In traveling across the country over the past two years, Lilly's storyand the broader issue of equal pay was a concern voiced over and overand over again,'' Mrs. Obama said. "It was a top and critical priorityfor women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, older women, youngerwomen, women with disabilities and their families.

"This legislation is an important step forward, particularly at a timewhen so many families are facing economic insecurity and instability,''Mrs. Obama continued. "It's also one cornerstone of a broader commitmentto address the needs of working women who are looking to us, to not onlyensure that they're treated fairly, but also to ensure that there arepolicies in place that help women and men balance their work and familyobligations without putting their jobs or their economic security atrisk.''

Mrs. Obama then introduced Ms. Ledbetter, who she described as "aninspiration to women and men all across the country.'' The crowd clappedand cheered.

Ms. Ledbetter praised the Obamas and said " I just believe in them andtheir work so very much.''

This was a monumental day for Ledbetter, but more importantly for women. Women who work very hard in the same capacity as a man, but are not paid the same as a man. Ledbetter is truly a trailblazer.

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